In the public interest? Archaeological research, permits and public participation in Italy

This paper aims to examine the Italian legislation on archaeological research, which requires a special permit (called “concession” – “concessione” in Italian) by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities. We will explore the history of the legislation on this permit and the current policy for issuing it, showing how the State policy led to a progressive exclusion of amateurs from this field. We will finally highlight the lack of evidence-based policy making in Italy, and call for a multi-stakeholder perspective in research design.